The Lord will wield from Zion †your scepter of power: *rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth †on the holy mountains; *from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. †“You are a priest for ever, *a priest like Melchizedek of old.”

The Master standing at your right hand *will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.

He shall drink from the stream by the wayside *and therefore he shall lift up his head.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, *and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Father, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.

Ant. Worship your Lord and God; serve him alone.

Ant. 2 This is the time when you can win God’s favor; the day when you can be saved.

Psalm 114The Israelites are delivered from the bondage of Egypt

You too left Egypt when, at baptism, you renounced that world which is at enmity with God (Saint Augustine).

When Israel came forth from Egypt, *Jacob’s sons from an alien people,Judah became the Lord’s temple, *Israel became his kingdom.

The sea fled at the sight: *the Jordan turned back on its course,the mountains leapt like rams *and the hills like yearling sheep.

Why was it, sea, that you fled, *that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?Mountains, that you leapt like rams, *hills, like yearling sheep?

Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, *in the presence of the God of Jacob,who turns the rock into a pool *and flint into a spring of water.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, *and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Almighty God, ever-living mystery of unity and Trinity, you gave life to the new Israel by birth from water and the Spirit, and made it a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people set apart as your eternal possession. May all those you have called to walk in the splendor of the new light render you fitting service and adoration.

Ant. This is the time when you can win God’s favor; the day when you can be saved.

Ant. 3 Now we must go up to Jerusalem where all that has been written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Canticle: 1 Peter 2:21-24The willing acceptance of his passion by Christ, the servant of God

Christ suffered for you, †and left you an example *to have you follow in his footsteps.

He did no wrong; *no deceit was found in his mouth.When he was insulted, *he returned no insult.

When he was made to suffer, *he did not counter with threats.Instead he delivered himself up *to the One who judges justly.

In his own body *he brought your sins to the cross,so that all of us, dead to sin, *could live in accord with God’s will.

By his wounds you were healed.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, *and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Now we must go up to Jerusalem where all that has been written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

READING 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

While all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable.

RESPONSORY

Listen to us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.– Listen to us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

Christ Jesus, hear our humble petitions,– for we have sinned against you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.– Listen to us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Ant. Watch over us, eternal Savior; do not let the cunning tempter seize us. We place all our trust in your unfailing help.

Canticle of MaryLuke 1:46-55The soul rejoices in the Lord

My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: †the Almighty has done great things for me, *and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel *for he has remembered his promise of mercy,the promise he made to our fathers, *to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, *and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Watch over us, eternal Savior; do not let the cunning tempter seize us. We place all our trust in your unfailing help.

INTERCESSIONS

All praise to God the Father who brought his chosen people to rebirth from imperishable seed through his eternal Word. Let us ask him as his children:Lord, be gracious to your people.

God of mercy, hear the prayers we offer for all your people,– may they hunger for your word more than for bodily food.Lord, be gracious to your people.

Give us a sincere and active love for our own nation and for all mankind, – may we work always to build a world of peace and goodness.Lord, be gracious to your people.

Look with love on all to be reborn in baptism,– that they may be living stones in your temple of the Spirit.Lord, be gracious to your people.

You moved Nineveh to repentance by the preaching of Jonah, – in your mercy touch the hearts of sinners by the preaching of your word.Lord, be gracious to your people.

May the dying go in hope to meet Christ their judge, – may they rejoice for ever in the vision of your glory.Lord, be gracious to your people.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Remember us, Lord, when you come to your kingdom and teach us how to pray:)

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Father,through our observance of Lent,help us to understand the meaningof your Son’s death and resurrection,and teach us to reflect it in our lives.Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.– Amen.

Or:

Grant, almighty God,through the yearly observances of holy Lent,that we may grow in understandingof the riches hidden in Christand by worthy conduct pursue their effects.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Sonwho lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.– Amen.

DISMISSAL

If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:

The Lord be with you.– And with your spirit.

May almighty God bless you,the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.– Amen.

Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.

Then he adds:

Go in peace.– Thanks be to God.

In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:

May the Lord + bless us,protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.– Amen.